Renowned labor rights leader Dolores Huerta discussed her decades-long work in political organization and civil rights activism at a virtual event hosted by the JFK Jr. Forum on Tuesday.

The event – moderated by VICE News correspondent Paola Ramos – coincided with National Voter Registration Day, a holiday created to promote voter registration awareness and civic engagement.

Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers Association in the 1960s with Cesar Chavez, said mass civic activism is needed for change.

“We have a democracy in the United States, but the only way democracy can work is for everyone to participate,” she said.

Huerta also explained how the political organization works to address the issues facing marginalized populations, citing his achievements in activism.

“We had a situation where the superintendent of schools was taking money that did not belong to him,” Huerta said. “Our committees were successful in getting some people elected to the school board and they finally got rid of them.”

“We find all of these things wrong, and a lot of people don’t know they have the power to go to school boards and say, ‘This is wrong’,” she added.

Huerta also referred to the United States’ obligation to provide aid to neighboring countries, referring to the current humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

“We in the United States should reach out to them and help them in any way we can,” Huerta said. “We are the richest country in the world. And yet, all of our southern neighbors, instead of raising and helping them, we oppress and take advantage of them. “

Huerta encouraged members of the public to form coalitions and not be afraid to get involved in activism at all levels.

“It takes courage to reach out to people,” Huerta said. “But you can always start the conversation off by saying, ‘Hey, don’t you think we should be doing something about climate change? “”

Even persuading a peer to call an elected official is a form of organization, she argued.

“When you do that you get a person to call, then you become an organizer, you become an activist,” Huerta said.

She also urged activists – especially those working on the issue of immigration reform – to persevere in their fight.

“We can never lose hope because the only time we lose is when we stop, and we are not going to stop,” she said. “We will continue until we get it.”

Yet Huerta – who has 11 children – acknowledged the sacrifices required of activists and their families.

“My children are the ones who sacrificed themselves because they didn’t have the wonderful education that I had,” she said. “What they got in return were experiences: adventures, meeting very famous people, involvement, and they grew up in a movement.”

“The only thing you need to understand, when you’re an activist, you make history,” Huerta added.

—Editor-in-Chief Joshua S. Cai can be contacted at [email protected]